There are two main ways of offering reasons for things, basically saying ‘because’ as an equivalent in English. There are actually lots of different ways of doing this but we will cover just two essential ways in today’s lesson.

1) 으니까

Use this example as an ending that fits onto the end of the verb. Unlike English the word order should be as follows: Because I am busy, I cannot go. 바쁘니까 못 가요.

It is incorrect to end the second statement with 으니까 such as: I am not going because I am busy. 못 가요 바쁘니까

Usage: With a verb/adjective (Take off the -다 first!) Ends in a vowel? = 니까 Ends in a consonant? = 으니까

With a noun Ends in a vowel? = 니까 Ends in a consonant? = 이니까

Examples:

가니까 – Because / since (I’m) going

목으니까 – B’cos / since (I’m) eating

책이니까 – B’cos / since (it’s) a book

피자니까 – B’cos / since (it’s) a pizza

Just remember those basic rules that I outlined in Korean beforehand. As verbs DO NOT conjugate like their European counterparts 가요 could literally mean I’m/you’re/he’s/she’s/we’re/they’re going etc.

Here are some example sentences. Please note that the ‘because/since’ comes only in the first sentence.